Transition Handbook
Vaushard Burroughs and Family
Family History
Vashaurd Burroughs was born on February 10, 2011 from his mother, N. Wilson. He was taken into custody by CPS because Ms. Wilson was using recreational drugs during and after birth. Therefore, Angela Burroughs got custody of Vashaurd. Angela Burroughs legally adopted him at the age of 1. Ms. Burroughs is a single mother with an additional two daughters. She also adopted his sister, who is one year older than he is.
History of Services and Educational History
Vashaurd started receiving early childhood intervention because he was not physically growing as his doctor would expect. Cognitive growth was not in tact either at a normal rate. Because of this, Vashaurd started to receive occupational therapy to assist his cognitive and motor skills. He received in-home services twice a week. Vaushard began attending a school called Small Steps Nurturing Center, where his sister had already began attending, which provides early childhood education and also caters to the social and emotional needs of small children. He currently receives speech therapy for expressive and receptive language, and play-based therapy. He currently has no medical concerns. Grades are not given at his age.
PLAAFP
Vaushard Burroughs currently is functioning on a pre-k level. He does struggle with receptive and expressive language, however, he is still on pre-k level as far as academic achievement.
Strengths
Vaushard’s strengths include identifying letters and sounds, verbally counting 1-30, as well as identifying numbers 1-10.
Weaknesses
Vaushard currently struggles with being able to understand what is being said to him as well as trying to communicate his own thoughts, feelings, and needs. He has trouble communicating with others due to his inability to understand what others want from him and communicate what he needs from them as well. This interferes with his ability to speak as well as his ability to interact socially with his teacher and also other students in his class.
Family Needs
Mrs. Burroughs, Vaushard's mother, has expressed her concern with needing help in selecting the best public school to transition Vaushard to next year. The family also needs continued speech therapy, as Vaushard continues to struggle with his expressive and receptive speech and communication skills. This therapy is still very much needed and Mrs. Burroughs wants to ensure that Vaushard will still be getting this therapy from the very beginning of the school year next year, as she does not want him to regress. Creating goals and activities to help Vaushard achieve those goals will fulfill the family's needs.
Family Centered Assessment:
The assessment given to the family was based on an authentic observation administered at Small Steps Nurturing Center where Vaushard attends school, as well as an authentic interview that took place at his home with him and his mother, Mrs. Burroughs.
The authentic and informal observation that took place at Small Steps was done in order to assess Vaushard's initiative and social relation skills.This assessment was done in order to find out the level of Vaushard's current social skills so that the correct goals could be set to help him grow and thrive in this area. Vaushard was observed in the natural environment of the classroom and the playground while he engaged with adults and classmates during structured classroom activities as well as unstructured playtime.
The interview took place with Vaushard's mother, Mrs. Burroughs, at their home. The interview assessed Vaushard's expressive and receptive communication skills, which was important to assess as Vaushard struggles with both of this areas of communication. Receiving family insights on how well Vaushard does specific things within expressive and receptive language helped to create specific goals to help him become better with expressing himself with language and understanding others' communication to him. That part of the interview was said in statements, and Mrs. Burroughs either answered yes or no as to where Vaushard is able to complete each task listed. The interview also assessed her opinion on personal goals she has for Vaushard, concerns, and interests of the family. This was important information for goal setting also, as well as finding the most appropriate and useful community resources for the family.
GOALS/OBJECTIVES:
- During structured classroom interactions, Vaushard will verbally express his needs and wants with 70% accuracy.
- During structured classroom interactions, Vaushard will use appropriate language to express thoughts and ideas with 70% accuracy.
- During structured classroom interactions, Vaushard will demonstrate effective and appropriate listening skills by correctly following verbal prompts with 70% accuracy.
- Vaushard will increase the amount of social interaction he has with teachers and peers to practice his receptive and expressive language skills and prepare for his new school environment.
TRANSITION ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES for Goal #1: Increasing expression of needs and wants-
- Vaushard will have a partner in class the whole school year to help him express himself as needed.
- Vaushard will participate in an after school club of interest to increase communication skills.
- Vaushard will have access to picture cards for the first half of the school year to aide him in understanding what he is trying to express to others for basic needs and wants.
ACTIVITIES for Goal #2: Using appropriate language to express ideas-
- The teacher will give Vaushard increased number of opportunties to respond daily.
- The teacher will work with Vaushard in small group instruction to express his ideas about stories and other activitie throughout the school year.
- The teacher will give the parent duplicated classroom strategies to implement at home daily.
ACTIVITIES for Goal #3: Following verbal prompts-
- Vaushard will draw pictures of simple instructions related to daily routines.
- Vaushard will verbally repeat simple instructions that the teacher gives on a daily basis.
- Vaushard will practice asking asking questions when he does not understand directions.
ACTIVITIES for Goal #4: Increasing social interactions-
- Vaushard will participate in boy scouts.
- Vaushard continued to receive play-based therapy twice a week.
- Vaushard will continue to receive speech therapy.
- Vaushard will participate in turn and talk actitivies in class.
Community/Agency Resources
Small Steps Nurturing Center
Address: 1709 Depelchin St, Houston, TX 77007
Phone: (713) 862-1020
Contact Person: Lauren Frier
Website: www.ssnc.org
Small Steps is the current preschool that Vaushard attends. Although he is transitioning, they will continue to provide services to Vaushard and his family, including Christmas presents, play-based therapy, and counseling services.
Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA
Address: 808 Pease St, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 659-8501
Website: https://www.ymcahouston.org/tellepsen-family/
The YMCA is a community organization that provides recreational opportunities for children that live in the community. The YMCA has an after school program that Vaushard and his sister are interested in enrolling in.
Family Services of Greater Houston
Address: 4625 Lillian St. Houston, TX 77007
Phone: (713) 861-4849
Mail: family@familyhouston.org
Website: http://familyhouston.org/
Family Services of Greater Houston provides programs that teach life skills necessary to face financial, health, and relationship issues. Their program is designed to help strengthen families through the services of case management, counseling, employment services, financial stability, parenting and life skills classes, substance abuse prevention, and veteran services.
Texas Health and Human Services
Address: 2711 Little York Rd, Houston, TX 77093
Phone: (713) 699-1098
Website: http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/
Texas Health and Human Services assists with Medicaid, temporary assistance for families in need, SNAP food benefits, and nutritional programs.
Household of Faith Community Church
Address: 6302 Tidwell Rd, Houston, TX, 77016
Phone: (713)-491-0660.
Website: http://www.hofcc.net/
The Household of Faith Community Church provides the community with food on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month for families in need.